FB’s Head of Football moves to Copa90

Global digital football brand COPA90 has hired Facebook’s head of football Robert Rodriguez as its new chief growth officer.

Rodriguez’s core role will focus on content, audience, data and innovation as COPA90 looks to expand its reach and distribution globally.

The fast-growing COPA90 brand was founded by Bigballs Media in 2012 and now boasts over 650 million views per month and 35 minutes per fan per week average watch time.

In his new role based in COPA90’s Los Angeles office, Rodriguez will work across the business, creating the next generation content formats and programming, with a deep focus on the fan insight.

He is expected to explore key platform relationships and partnerships, both content and commercial, across the likes of Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Snap and Twitter.

“I’ve been a fan of the brand for a long time,” commented Rodriguez. “The success that COPA90 CEO Tom (Thirlwall) and the team have achieved is truly inspiring. COPA90 has massive future in helping to bring the football community together and celebrate all that makes this game so fantastic.”

At Facebook, Rodriguez played a strategic role in its global football rights acquisitions with UEFA Champions League, Liga MX, La Liga.

His experience also extends to working with some of the football world’s biggest players including Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and PSG’s Brazilian Neymar, as well as global giants Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Rodriguez has also been involved in many notable Facebook product and business launches, including Facebook Watch, Instagram Live and Stories. He also played a key role in growing Fox Deportes Digital, breaking new ground in social, live streaming, and digital driven content programming for the Spanish network and its US Hispanic sports audience.

Thirlwall continued: “Robert has very deep and varied media experience from broadcast to the biggest social platform in the world as well as relationships across the football world with players, leagues and clubs. He’s an exciting addition for us as we look to collectively architect the next era of growth for COPA90.”

COPA90 was recently recognised by Tubular Labs as the most influential sports brand on YouTube, fending off Formula One and the Olympics. Its Visa sponsored 2018 World Cup Snapchat Discover channel was drew 31 million viewers over the course of the tournament this summer.